WCA March 2014

Industry news

THE Asian Development Bank is helping China to build a large-scale concentrated solar thermal power plant, believed to be the first of its kind. “This pioneering project will demonstrate how the PRC could leverage its indigenous solar resources to diversify its energy mix in a sustainable manner. With this comprehensive assistance package of low-cost financing, policy advice, and capacity development, we expect successful demonstration will lead to wider uptake of CSP plants in the PRC in the medium term,” said Shigeru Yamamura, a senior energy specialist at ADB’s East Asia department. The loan will help build a 50MW power plant capable of generating 197 gigawatt-hours of electricity using a renewable energy technology that converts direct normal irradiation into usable heat, generating medium- to high-temperature saturated steam that runs the steam turbine for power generation. Qinghai province, where the plant will be situated, is located in a high plateau and is currently ranked first in solar power capacity concentration throughout the PRC. It has over 2GW of solar photovoltaic installed capacity, which is more than 60 per cent of the national capacity. The project site is located in an area where minimum overnight temperatures can fall to -27ºC. This is the first application of a concentrated solar power plant in such low winter temperatures. The government of the PRC has since announced a target of 1GW of concentrated solar thermal power capacity by 2015 and 3GW by 2020. Asian Development Bank – Philippines Website : www.adb.org Asian Development Bank steps in for solar thermal plant

Joining forces Chinese solar manufacturer Solargiga Energy Holdings Ltd is part of a joint venture to develop 200MW of photovoltaic plants in Ghana. Solargiga said in a statement that the company will own 90 per cent of the venture with Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, which promotes green projects in the north of Ghana. Ghana is following nations such as Nigeria and South Africa in seeking to develop large solar plants. It introduced long-term incentives to help meet a 10 per cent target for generation from clean sources by 2020. The UK developer Blue Energy Co has plans for a 155MW solar park in the country. Solargiga will initially develop projects with 40MW of capacity. Solargiga – Hong Kong Website : www.solargiga.com

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Wire & Cable ASIA – March/April 2014